Post by Sheng on Mar 27, 2024 0:57:59 GMT
“80 AME. What was to be the start of a new and prosperous decade whilst the K.S.F continued their operation to clear the remains of the biozones quickly became a year of infamy for Tyrelestara. Of the three arcologies present: Heros, Invicta and Fortis, two came under attack by a mutagenic horde the likes of which were never before seen.
It was a massacre, Heros was overrun in hours and Fortis in days. Invicta held a Final Defense Briefing and conscripted nearly eighty percent of the civilian populace to the Arcologies’ defense. Two days later? The horde arrived.
Eight million bodies later, the horde finally broke and Invicta was saved by the skin of its teeth. But while Heros has been reclaimed, the efforts to rebuild Fortis are yet ongoing to this day and both are still under constant attack.”
-Dr. B. Recherche, Crown's Royal Technologist.
RMB#-1918 “Sunbringer”
KSF Strategic Aerotransport
90kms from the “Heros” Arcology
Altebrucke reached up to adjust the straps on his mask as he stared out the craft’s armoured window, the dull roar of the aircraft’s engines trickled through the edge of his hearing. Oddly enough, he had never really liked the ambient noise of the bulky craft’s four roaring engines, most attributed it to personal preference but there were rumours that it was because of the destruction that used to follow such noises. Regardless he leaned back away from the window and pulled his PDA out from his body armour’s utility pouch, quickly putting his pin in and tracking it over to the contacts section. He quickly scrolled through them before stopping on one labelled “Mazarine” and hitting the dial button next to it, raising the PDA to his ear and covering the other with his free hand. It rang for a solid twenty seconds before a gruff but feminine voice answered “Setarah.” He couldn’t quite stop the thin smile etching itself across his face before he responded, voice raised to be heard over the engines but also slightly muffled by his gas mask, “Fennec here! Heard you and Kat got the shit end of the stick!” He heard a brief bark of laughter on the other end of the line before she said back in a much happier tone “Fuckin’ hell! Are you still kicking about you old faggot?! Ha! Shouldn’t be too surprised, always were one tough bastard.” He let out his own chuckle before she continued “Yeap! Got pulled in by old Argyle to go pull your little techy out’ the meat grinder!” Altebrucke nodded to himself despite the fact she couldn’t see it and said “Hey, it shouldn’t be that bad! Spore levels shouldn’t be nothing a good mask can’t solve and overhead never picked up on any notable mutagen presence!” He heard a lighter flick a few times on the other end before they said “That’s true, at least they went down over Amnesty and not some shithole like Fortune’s Kiss or- well- anywhere in Heros.” He grimaced at that but continued “Yeah, anyway just heard the news and figured a little bit of a call couldn’t hurt all that bad.” He paused for a second before saying in a more serious tone “Catch-up aside, you've been briefed on what you’re going in for?” A few seconds of silence before he heard a sigh followed by “Nope and judging by your tone it’s something that’ll require a debriefing that’ll involve the words ‘State Secret’ afterward.” Altebrucke laughed, much to her despair, at that one. He’d always known that she was a perceptive one. “Yeah, sorry about that. Obviously, your priority is to recover Blake but there’s a component she’s got with her that’s equally as important.” Silence for a few seconds more “How important?” His smile grew before he said, “Does the name Crepuscular mean anything to you?”
The pilots looked back from the cockpit with curious expressions as he burst out laughing when the line went dead not five seconds later
Oldfoundland
Outer Mining Village
44kms East of the ruins of Amnesty City
Setarah scowled as she snapped the PDA shut and ended the call, the sounds of screeching bagpipes and roaring tank engines just beginning to filter in on the edge of her hearing. She turned to face Katsis who was sitting at the round glass table alongside her and said “Yeah ‘We’re in business’ If I had any sense I’d have told Argyle to go fuck himself then and there.” The Skarrin looked up from her food with a confused expression, munching a few more times before swallowing and saying “...what?” Setarah rolled her eyes before saying “You know that Techy that Argyle wants us to pick up? Guess what the dumb bitch was transporting?” Katsis just blankly stared back at her until Setarah answered “Component for that black-ops shit we keep hearing about; Crepuscular.” Katsis sighed before stabbing her fork back into the shepherd's pie before her, digging out a few pieces of synth meat and chopping down on them. “At least we’re getting paid premium” She said. “A couple hour-long debrief and a few signatures isn’t all that bad when we’re getting this kind of pay.” Setarah shook her head and said “Yeah, sure, but I don’t like running around doing all this classified shit. This is a job for the Anti-Personnel crew or Spectre.” Katsis looked up from her pie with a cocked eyebrow and said, much to Setarah’s annoyance, “We’re Spectre cleared.” Setarah threw her hands up in exasperation “That’s not the point! The point is we’re just overqualified mercenaries, not a spec-ops squad for hire!” Katsis chuckled before motioning for Setarah to quiet down, spotting a waiter approaching. It was a human boy, probably around 17-19 years old and dressed up in a pretty average service uniform with a dark purple waistcoat. He flashed them both a cheery smile and put two sparkly orange glasses down in front of them. “AAAAnd here’s your Solstice Sundaes! House policy that everyone who buys on Solstice Day gets a free glass.” Setarah gave him an appreciative nod before Katsis said to him “Tyrelestaran holiday?” The boy cocked an eyebrow at that, demeanour changing slightly before he asked- well, more said: “You two ain’t from ‘round here, eh?” Katsis chuckled before saying “That obvious?” The boy nodded and responded, “We just call it Lestara here, that and the uniforms of course.” He nodded to the dark blue, practically black, fatigues they both wore. Katsis gave Setarah an amused smirk before turning back to him and saying “Espen Industries, looking at investigating a plane crash that happened around here.” She pulled out a stack of silver coins and handed them over to him “Heard ‘bout anything odd the past few days? Seen any strange people around, stuff like that?”
The boy pocketed the change with slightly widened eyes before saying “Not really. You two’ve been the first odd ones we’ve seen anything of. ‘Course the Banner’s Convoy on approach definitely weirded us out too, none of us knew what to think o’ the Mayor gettin’ a letter saying he’d be playing host to a Company of soldiers.” Katsis looked over at Setarah who responded with an irritated eye-roll. It was almost like the brass had never heard of the word “Subtle” before. Katsis motioned for the boy to continue. “We just chalked it up as a hunting outfit though, there’s been reports coming in from some of our wayfarers that go beyond the wall-” He pointed to the village’s wooden wall “-about increased mutant sightings. Figured they was in the area and decided to be comin’ round to sort it out.” He left it unsaid that their appearing in the same timeframe sort of shot that theory full of holes, but they picked up on it either way. Katsis nodded and waved the boy away, picking up her sundae and shovelling a spoonful of it into her mouth. She and Setarah sat in silence for a few seconds as they both started on their sundaes before Kat piped up “Sudden and unexplained mutant activity appearing as far as fifty kilos out from a plane crash carrying classified tech?” Setarah nodded before saying “Yeah, there’s definitely some shit going on that the two of us aren’t privy to.” Kat nodded her agreement. “Think we should press Argy about it? He got that General as a contact, maybe he might know?” Setarah shot the idea down with a rapid shake of her head before commenting “Asking questions about secret fed shit is not how I wanna go down, thank you very much. We’ll just deal with any odd shit as it comes up, Banner’s wouldn’t have sent us out here if it was outside of our capabilities. They might be stupid sometimes but they aren’t wasteful.” Kat nodded as she swallowed another spoonful of Sundae before gently laying the glass back down.
All around them, civilians were starting to pour out of their homes and onto the streets to watch the incoming column, the sounds of bagpipes, snare drums and engines growing closer by the second. Setarah and Katsis both looked down the street and listened for a few minutes, sure enough, a soldier clad in OD power armour suddenly turned the corner bearing a massive pike which was pointed into the sky, the Altari flag flapping at its tip as the wind picked up slightly. The leader was quickly followed by a column of Ciarian soldiers dressed up in full combat gear, loaded rifles resting against their shoulders as they marched along with the music. Katsis looked over to Setarah as the civilians started cheering them on and said “Ready for the bill?”
The Altar of Hallowed Heroes
Capital’s Ceremonial Square, Cambiar City
King’s Hill Arcology, Cairn.
Oswald’s eyes narrowed as uniformed hands tugged on his armour, ensuring all the clasps were in place and tightened at the right level. He never did like having other people help him with his armour, call it stubbornness or arrogance all you like but he saw no reason why he, King of Altar, shouldn't be allowed to handle his own equipment. What made it even more infuriating is that they actually made it look better, the plate freshly oiled and polished, the accessories cleaned to pristine, straps cut and resewn. They always went above and beyond with it and even he had to admit he cut an impressive figure after their work was finished. However, his thoughts were interrupted as one of the assistants stepped forward and held both hands out. Clasped in their cotton-gloved fingers was his sword, in the same annoyingly pristine quality as the rest of his armour. His bicoloured eyes carefully examined the ancient weapon, roaming over and singling out every detail before he finally reached out and accepted it. Swishing his cape back behind him as he lowered it down to clip onto his warbelt, the sheathe clattering against his cuisses. The servants all stepped away as he turned and took a couple of steps forward, armour clinking around as he approached a tall mirror lined with gold. He stared at his reflection with an irritated expression before calling out “Ethelinda!” A Ciarian woman with neatly trimmed hair and an elaborate lavender suit appeared a few seconds later, raising an eyebrow before her eyes widened at seeing him. “Goodness, Oswald. I haven’t seen you in plate since… forever, really.” Oswald scowled before turning around to face her “This equipment isn’t a fashion statement, wearing it for a speech… pah, if my father had seen this he’d have had an aneurysm. A soldier playing politics, that’s all this looks like.” Ethelinda shook her head with a sigh before approaching, hands clasped behind her back as she looked him over before reaching out and adjusting the clasps of his cape. “You are the King, Oswald, not a soldier. As such you are expected to play a part and dress accordingly. Not complain about it like a toddler.” She said the last part with a hint of a smirk which only served to fuel his irritation.
He pushed her hands away before placing a hand atop the hilt of his sword and turning to face the curtains, where just beyond thousands awaited to hear his address. “My part. Hah! Do you know what my part should have been woman? Cutting down beasts by the dozens on Reina, or charging with a rifle on Fortune’s Kiss, instead here I am. Nothing more than an overrated mascot with a sword.” Ethelinda was silent, she made to speak up but Oswald held up a gauntleted hand to stop her. The two sat in silence for a few seconds before Oswald let out a deep breath and pushed out through the curtains, instantly being met with the sounds of thousands upon thousands of cheers and applause. He plastered on a thin smile and gave them all a wave as he approached the wooden podium, Ciarian officers lined up against the wall behind him. All of them gave him gentle smiles as he passed by them on his way up to it. As he stopped before it and began adjusting the array of microphones in front of him the cheering began to die down, the square quickly growing silent except for the quiet snaps and flashes of cameras and the dull ambience of the city around them. He stared back out at the crowd and cleared his throat before leaning in and saying “Good evening. I’m sure many of you were surprised to hear that this old skeleton was shambling out to see you all so randomly.” There was some scattered laughter at his joke and he cracked a small grin at it until it quieted down. The grin slowly died, however, replaced by a stern expression “But. This is no random address, nor did I come out here to simply prattle on. I fear that I have… grim news to share with you all.” The atmosphere slowly began to change after that, as excited smiles and bright eyes were quickly replaced with exhausted frowns and glares. Many quickly realised that this was going to be one of those announcements. Oswald took a deep breath before saying “As many of you know, there has been a massive Banner presence at the arcology of Heros where many civilians have finally begun to settle after the attacks of eighty A-M-E. For their protection we had an incredible presence of the combined might of the Kingdom’s Standing Forces in an effort to ensure their protection, alas, it was not enough. At approximately nine yesterday morning, Tyrelestaran Western Time, The Veritas Aequitas spotted an unusual concentration of fog fifty kilometres north of the arcology. The information was relayed to the Western Army Division Forces on the ground below and a scouting party was sent out to investigate. They did not return.” There were scattered gasps from the crowd, but there were those whose reactions were far more muted but no less shocked. Veterans, with badges and patches sewn onto their clothes, indicating it, these people had already figured out what news was coming and it quite openly showed from the despair present on their faces. “As per Royal Protocol, the Arcology was put on high alert. But it was… too little too late… The Heros Arcology reported a last-defence scenario at seventeen-twenty, but by twenty-two hundred… all communications ceased.” Oswald closed his eyes.
“I regret to report that Heros has fallen. The Arcology has been overrun following the overwhelming presence of the Mutagenic Swarm, the Western Army Division was defeated and the walls that were presently undergoing reconstruction have been destroyed.” Oswald’s eyes opened again but before the crowd could make a sound he continued “But, as Sole Commander of the Kingdom’s Standing Forces, I have directed assets within the System of Tyrelestara that all measures are to be taken to ensure the defence of Invicta and of Fortis and no matter how long it may take us to repel this invasion, the Altari Peoples will push through to Total. Victory.” At this, the atmosphere slowly began to pick up once more, despair replaced by anger and anger by spirit. “With confidence, in the Standing Forces of this Kingdom and with the indomitable will of our people. I am assured that we will obtain a final triumph over the threat posed to our territory, our interests and our people by this biological scourge! I am assured of this because I know our people! And I know that the sacrifice of the Herosian Forces will not be in vain! Those young men and women were heroes! They were heroes not because of vanity or greed, but because the world demanded it! Humanity demanded it! They did what they knew they had to do, and they did it damned be the consequences! Every! Single! One of them went to their deaths knowing not only they would die, but that in doing so they would give their lives for ALTAR and her people! And not a single one of them backed down! They were faced with death and they responded with hellfire!"
Oswald took a deep breath before schooling his expression, golden and cobalt eyes gleaming as he continued “And that is what we shall continue to do! We have stood the test of time long enough! Damn stability! Damn the status quo!” All along the edge of the stage, cameras began flashing as Oswald raised his fist whilst continuing his speech “Too many have died to these terrors! No more, I say! The time for action is now! We will sit behind cannons and walls no longer! We shall take the fight to the biozones! To the monsters that sit idle within them and we will turn them to ash! We shall prescribe to them blood, fire and death like they have given unto us!” The crowd erupted into cheers, but for Oswald, it was as if the square had hushed into a reverent silence, blood pounding in his ears as the Ciaran officers stood behind them, their solemn expressions replaced with pride and admiration, stood up in unison. The square erupted in applause, Oswald looking around him, spotting Ethelinda for a brief second and the quiet smile on her face before turning back towards the crowd.
“And so we will march forward, to reclaim our rightful homeland, with Unparalleled Force!”
“Garrison”
Kingdom’s Standing Forces Strategic Communication Relay
Geosynchronous orbit over Cairn.
>PING [CROWN] to [GARRISON] | O=O=A
>KSFSCR [GARRISON]
>KSF-NAD REPEATER [CAIRN]
- PRIORITY ALERT
ORDER OF ACTION RECEIVED AT [13:05] [PM] FROM [CROWN], TO [GARRISON, KSF-NAD], DOCTRINAL UPDATE: PRIORITY BELLFALL
[All REPEATER network installations are to relay secure communications both physically and digitally until further notice. All stations are to relay doctrinal updates under the BELLFALL procedure.
KSF-NAD SCRR has been notified of priority order from [CROWN]. System will provide updates to further actions to be taken. Await further instructions.]
Doctrinal Update is as follows:
[CROWN - ALL STATIONS.
This is an official communication from SRCC. Under direct command from O. OC. KSF-NAD is to begin immediate preparation for an offensive in the TOP PROVINCE, space to be cordoned will follow. KSF-EAD, SAD, is to relocate to the KUOKANAMAI province to begin cordon for offensive actions. WAD is to proceed to TYRELESTARA province to reinforce NAD asset withdrawal and replace it to begin cordon for offensive actions. KSF-RG is to prepare for combat action in the UNDESIGNATED provinces, tasking CREPUSCULAR has been redesignated as PRIORITY: TOTAL. Retrieval of assets is now the sole mission of the Royal Guard, coordination with Spectre Division, Espen Industries is already underway to task for additional resources. The C-C-R Project has been redesignated as PRIORITY: TOTAL. Activation of the C-C-R has been deemed paramount to the continued survival of Altar.]
- Failure is not an option, in the name of the Kingdom our capacity for victory must be resolute. D_ROE has been reclassified. Title Phrase: UNPARALLELED FORCE.
Altari Inviolabilis -